Adelaide comes in eighth in ranking by Charles Landry against 17 other world cities including Helsinki, Finland, Perth and Canberra

Naomi Murrell has set up her jewellery shop in Adelaide rather than looking to Melbourne or Sydney. Picture: Stephen Laffer.Source: News Corp Australia

THE city is undergoing a radical change in thinking as a more “can do” attitude helps the state ride out the tide of economic turmoil, an official report has concluded.

Government-backed researchers found more young people wanted to “stay and help Adelaide” while scores of small businesses and workers were “getting on with things”.

There was a growing “we can do it here” attitude that helped reshape the city beyond recognition and help the capital “break the shackles”, according to the Adelaide City Council commissioned report.

TELL US BELOW: Should we be surprised by the report’s finding?

The report, led by former Thinker in Resident Charles Landry, benchmarked Adelaide in four categories with 17 other world cities including Helsinki, Finland, San Sebastian, in Spain and the Taiwan capital Taipei as well as Perth and Canberra.

Researchers looked at a variety of issues such as the city’s openness and accessibility for new businesses, the political landscape, leadership, vision as well as innovation policies, communication, networking and media.

The report, titled the Creative City Index that was based on interviews and online surveys, also looked at other lifestyle factors such as diversity, vitality, livability and well being.

It rated Adelaide eighth with a ranking of 56 per cent, which was “good, but could improve”.

In comparison the leading city, Hesinki, ranked almost 70 per cent while the lowest, Donegal, in Ireland, ranked below 50 per cent.

Former Thinker in Resident Charles Landry led the report. File picture.Source: News Limited

After taking the creative pulse of Adelaide it concluded the “glimmers of a mood change are significant and encouraging”.

It said in the face of economic turmoil, confidence was key.

“The culture of metro Adelaide is shifting — positively,” the authors found. “A cloud is lifting. There is a clear change of mood and atmosphere and the greater ‘can do’ attitude is encouraging even though the underlying economic conditions are precarious. They may even get worse.

“There is an awareness of the need to adapt to changing conditions. In reflecting on itself Adelaide has collectively begun to go through a shift. It appreciates a city can create its own opportunities.

“People are getting on with things and wanting to take action exemplified by a greater ‘can do’ attitude. More younger people want to stay and help Adelaide.”

They added: “They are digital natives and social media savvy, they are attuned to pop up culture, who have decided “let’s go for it”. There is more of a ‘we can do it here’ attitude. The city looks and feels different.

“The feeling is that Adelaide wants to burst out and break the shackles, which are often self-imposed and conditioned by a self-critical attitude.”

The 45-page report was also developed by the former Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Technology, and Resources — now the Department of State Development — and Playford Council.

It identifies three critical areas to harness creativity and foster innovation including recommending mainstream businesses work more closely with emerging markets and develop more “inspired” connections between people and entrepreneurs.

It argues for Adelaide to be a part of a “global conversation between cities” and how they can appeal to broader markets.

The state was constrained by a small population and vast area, which meant resources were always stretched and infrastructure costs were higher.

A “collegiate” series of networks also hindered growth.

The authors conclude the city needed to reactivate its “innovative DNA” and become even more inventive. An online “ideas hub’ is also mooted by the authors.

Their conclusions will now help shape the council’s “Adelaide 2030 plan”.

“Adelaide, like all major cities worldwide, is in the midst of a significant transition,” the report states. “With the danger of manufacturing hollowing out, new forms of wealth creation are emerging.”

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